How can you create an infrastructure disaster recovery plan?

The IDRP should identify probable hazards/disasters which can impact the infrastructure and it should be followed by likely impact on infrastructure system. For each of the likely impact, a threshold for response action should be mentioned. For example, an impact which is insignificant, the immediate response action can be avoided. For other impact, which are beyond threshold the immediate action for continuity of service i.e. business continuity actions should be mentioned. These will be part of risk identification and mitigation measures.

Some ways to get started are to look for free resources from reputable companies. Many will provide free templates that meet or exceed industry standards. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Customize the framework to your business and know your limitations. Sometimes having a professional review and assist is worth the money. Finding out you have a gap in the middle of a crisis can be devastating.

For multinational companies, the importance of an IDRP is even greater. I remember the day after the Arab Spring while living in Tunis and how most NGOs and businesses were scrambling to figure out how to provide basic services and keep their employees safe. For companies operating overseas, their IDRP needs to address the following: 1. What is the impact of a disaster on the business? 2. How can we ensure that we can continue to provide services? 3. What is the impact on our employees? Stay ready, stay safe!

An Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Plan (IDRP) is important for many reasons. By having a well-defined plan in place, an organization can recover their critical IT infrastructure and services more efficiently and minimize the impact of the disaster on business operations, even during adverse situations. In certain industries, there are legal requirements and regulations that mandate businesses to have these plans in place. Having a plan instills confidence in customers and stakeholders (including employees) that the organization is prepared to manage emergencies and protect their interests. In summary, an IDRP is vital for an organization's ability to withstand and recover from disasters effectively.

As a CBCP (Certified Business Continuity Professional), I believe this article missed the point that an IDRP cannot be created in isolation from a BCP (Business Continuity Plan), as the disaster that has occurred may well have had an effect on the people and their families, so if your IDRP depends on certain engineers etc being available then circumstances might prevent that! An example was Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans - they had a superb IDRP and BCP, but when the storm happened, the expectation that the police and emergency services would control the city failed miserably when those personnel chose to take their own families to safety, and then could not get back to the city to help!

As with any planning team is it crucial to identify, recruit and create shared buy-in among key stakeholders who have expertise and some level of ownership. However it is is a common trap to stop there. Levering the Emergency Management concept of Whole Community allows you to identify and invite stakeholders through the served area who offer a broad and more diverse perspectives that are sometimes overlooked in hyper technical conversations among single discipline SMEs. It is is also critical to understand that an IDRP created without considerations for your communities response and recovery capabilities merely creates a false set of expectations.

AI + Traditional Security Tools = Streamline way to create an IDRP. You can make creating an Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Plan (IDRP) easier by leveraging the strengths of ChatGPT and traditional security. For example, after conducting a detailed risk assessment, you can use ChatGPT to identify and prioritize the various disaster recovery scenarios that could affect your organization. Gone are the days of spending hours writing a document that may only sit on a shelf gathering dust. As a security professional entering midlife, I find this very empowering!

Communication...Communication...Communication... There are many best practices for creating an IDRP but the one that I always see crisis teams have the most difficulty with is having a solid Communications Plan. No amount of reading, watching, or attending trainings can prepare you for a real crisis. That's why it's crucial to have a strong team and to plan your communications strategy and tactics before you need them. "In times of crisis, communication is the bridge that connects uncertainty to clarity, fear to reassurance, and chaos to stability, guiding us towards hope and resolution."

Developing and maintaining an IDRP requires significant resources, including financial investments, personnel, time, and technology. Disasters can trigger cascading failures; identifying and addressing potential cascading effects is difficult but necessary. Organizations often have to prioritize which systems and services to recover first. Deciding on the right order of recovery can be challenging and may involve difficult decisions between stakeholders. Regular testing and validation of a disaster recovery plan are the ONLY way to ensure its effectiveness. However, testing an IDRP can be costly, disruptive, and time-consuming. The challenge is to strike a balance between testing frequency and the potential impact on operations.

All great things mentioned! If I may add, logistics of where the EOP staff can gather to execute the IDRP. High ground is key with at least two accessible entries/exits. Comms! Communications, communications, communication is imperative! A team to interpret all real time data of activities affecting those areas most needed for support. Experienced field personnel to evaluate what and who have been affected and immediately communicated to the assessment team(s) to develop a strategic plan of assistance. Just my two cents??

As a best practice, I like to keep my policies and procedures separate. When you consider complex enterprises across regions and with varying risks, policies should start from the top, but the recovery procedures need to be specific. Make sure your plans are tested and your documentation available both in hard copy and digital form.